What tools or methods can be used to clean SMS phone number lists?
Summary
What email marketers say14Marketer opinions
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that some SMS providers can do HLR lookups before sending the SMS to check if the number is valid on the network.
Email marketer from Reddit suggests using list cleaning services to validate phone numbers. These services will automatically clean up and remove phone numbers that are not active or that are disconnected. They also remove duplicates.
Email marketer from Rebrandly stresses that it is important to clean SMS lists for compliance with regulations. Cleaning lists can be done by asking subscribers to re-confirm their subscription periodically, which helps to maintain a list of engaged and valid contacts.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares that Xverify offers "7 digit" phone validation to compares area code, exchange and first # of the block group to the NANPA for improving data quality, identifying line type and carrier.
Email marketer from TechTarget contributor responds that SMS list cleaning tools help ensure that marketing messages reach real people and not invalid or inactive numbers. Methods include HLR lookups to verify the current status of a number and real-time validation at the point of entry to prevent bad data from entering the list.
Email marketer from Mobile Marketing Watch shares that keeping your SMS list healthy is important. Ways to do this include removing duplicates, deleting inactive numbers, and correcting any typos to prevent sending messages to the wrong numbers.
Email marketer from Web Hosting Talk Forum shares that a combination of techniques are needed to clean an SMS list. This includes using validation services to verify the numbers at the point of entry, regularly removing unengaged subscribers, and using HLR lookups to determine the current status of a number.
Email marketer from ExpertTexting shares that using a phone number validation service to ensure that only active and deliverable phone numbers are included in SMS marketing campaigns will help ensure that your SMS messages are delivered.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that there aren't really any SMS phone number cleaning tools as Mobile phone numbers and networks work very differently from email. The industry standard way to verify mobile nos. is by sending a verification SMS at the time of acquisition.
Marketer from Email Geeks recommends checking out Black List Alliance and suggests seeking legal advice before sending SMS/MMS messaging.
Email marketer from SMS Comparison shares that cleaning your SMS list helps to improve deliverability rates, reduce costs, and comply with regulations. Common methods include removing invalid numbers, unsubscribers, and duplicates, as well as verifying numbers at the point of entry.
Email marketer from Sendinblue explains that to improve SMS deliverability and maintain a clean list, it is crucial to obtain explicit consent from subscribers, respect opt-out requests, and avoid sending messages to inactive numbers. Cleaning the list regularly helps to maintain compliance and improve engagement rates.
Email marketer from Small Business Chron explains that cleaning mobile marketing lists helps to prevent wasted resources and ensures compliance with regulations. They recommend regularly removing inactive subscribers, correcting any formatting errors, and using third-party services to validate phone numbers.
Email marketer from ClearTouch shares that regularly cleaning SMS lists can be done by removing unsubscribed numbers promptly, correcting typos, and running data through validation services to identify and remove invalid numbers before sending campaigns.
What the experts say1Expert opinion
Expert from Word to the Wise stresses the importance of SMS compliance, which includes obtaining consent, avoiding prohibited content, and providing clear opt-out mechanisms. Regularly reviewing and removing inactive numbers, as well as auditing consent records, will help maintain list hygiene and ensure compliance with SMS regulations.
What the documentation says3Technical articles
Documentation from Twilio explains that their Verify API can validate phone numbers by sending a verification code via SMS. This confirms that the number is active and reachable, reducing the risk of sending messages to invalid or inactive numbers. This can reduce costs and improve deliverability.
Documentation from MessageBird explains that their platform offers tools to check the validity of phone numbers before sending SMS messages. By using these tools, users can reduce costs associated with sending to invalid numbers and improve the overall efficiency of their SMS campaigns. They also advise removing inactive users from your list.
Documentation from Vonage explains that they have a Number Insight API, which provides real-time information about a phone number, including its validity, type (mobile or landline), and carrier. This information can be used to clean SMS lists by identifying and removing invalid or non-mobile numbers. It can also help with formatting numbers correctly to improve deliverability.